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Union Station is a major train and subway station at 65 Front Street West between Bay Street and York Street in downtown Toronto. The primary function of Union Station is now to act as a terminus for commuters on GO Transit, thanks to which it is busier than any other transport facility in the country (including airports). It continues to serve as a hub for rail travellers, and many railway companies have their offices within the building.  Main Entrance of Union Station
Details Union Station is eight storeys tall and features a massive lobby known as the Great Hall, numerous corridors at the top, and a shooting gallery used by CN police on the seventh floor. Although the station was a transportation hub for trains, that role was expanded to include the subway at the TTC's Union station in 1954, and GO Transit in later decades.
Union Station is one of the only large railway stations in North America to use through-train operation. That is, the train platforms are through lines rather than lines which terminate in the station, as in stub-end operation.
History When Union Station was built it was the largest enclosed space in Canada. Construction was begun in 1913 and the building was officially opened on August 6, 1927 in a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by His Royal Highness Prince Edward of Wales who cut the ribbon with a pair of gold scissors. Also in attendance was Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, Prince George, United Kingdom PM Stanley Baldwin and Mrs. Baldwin. Also in attendance was Ontario Lieutenant-Governor William Donald Ross and Mrs. Ross, Premier of Ontario George Howard Ferguson and numerous other members of the Ontario government and Canadian government.
Union Station was built by Canadian Pacific Railway and Grand Trunk Railway. The architects were G.A. Ross, R.H. MacDonald, Hugh Jones, and John M. Lyle. Like many stations of its period, it is in the manner of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
The Future Union Station was puchased by the City from the Toronto Terminals Railway Company (TTR) in August of 2000. On July 24, 2003 the City leased Union Station to the Union Pearson Group for a term of 100 years. A public-private partnership has been created to redevelop the station, and a Master Plan has been developed with four major components: - An integrated public realm, redefining and joining the Union Plaza and Front Street spaces
- A modern station, including redevelopment of the trainshed with construction above it
- Revitalization of underutilized spaces, notably redeveloped concourses, moats and teamways
- Extended pedestrian connections, including improved passages, new entrances, and improved ease of movement
Presently there is no rail service to the airport, but on November 13, 2003 Transport Canada announced the selection of Union Pearson AirLink Group to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain an air-rail link between Union Station and Lester B. Pearson International Airport. This project has been called Blue22 because it is planned to provide a 22 minute trip time. It is expected that the technology used will be Diesel Multiple Unit cars. The rail link is expected to be operational by 2010.
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